Back to School Safety Tips

It’s exciting for everyone to see what a new school year will bring. Kids are excited to see their friends and start a new grade, and parents are happy to get back on a regular schedule. To make sure everyone has a safe and positive school year, here are some safety tips to help make this year great.

Walking to school. It’s a good idea to have a designated route to walk to and from school. Practice walking this route with your child. Plan a path that is well traveled, and stress to your children the importance of not taking shortcuts. If possible, have your child walk with a group a friends in the neighborhood.

Riding the bus. Let your kids know to always stay seated on the bus, and to look both ways before boarding or leaving the bus.

Riding your bike to school. Remind your kids to always wear a helmet and to be extra cautious due to increased traffic. It’s important to use hand signals, and to teach your children the rules of the road. Let them know that loud music or earphones are dangerous because it makes them less aware of what’s going on around them.

When dropping your child off at school, make sure to wait until they enter the building before driving off.

Watch out for backpack weight. An overloaded backpack could be potentially harmful, especially when worn incorrectly.

Reemphasize the importance of not talking to strangers, and to talk to a trusted adult, like a teacher, if they see or are approached by an unknown adult. Use a code that only the family knows in case there’s an emergency and you need someone else to pick them up from school.

Pack an ice pack in your child’s lunch to keep the food at a safe temperature. Avoid packing foods that will spoil quickly.

Talk to your children about bullying and peer pressure, and what to do should the situation arise at school.

School should be a safe place for our children to learn and grow. By following a few simple safety tips, we can make the new school year a great one.